Give and Take at Carpiquet Airport

Heroes Remember

Give and Take at Carpiquet Airport

Transcript

I can remember being at Carpiquet airport. They had that air strip and there was a little valley like this and we were on this ridge here looking across on it. Our artillery used to just blacken that thing, but then as soon as that was over they’d, we’d get fire from an 88. Soon as he opened up, our FOs would down him again. When we did take it we found out what it was. It was an 88 on a hydraulic ram. It would come up, fire two or three rounds and drop right in the airport. Now the hangars was just in shreds they were, because we had really pounded the daylights out of them. But once we had the radar back, geez, that was another ball of wax. Jerry got, took a bloody nose many times It was part of the artillery, you see. So Jerry fired from over there, behind the hill or something and his projectile came over like this and landed. Well, they just came through like this. They just took it backwards. There’s the target. You fired on that, and Jerry used to shut up right away, and afterwards, well as we advanced over the country, you could see where his artillery batteries had been and you could see where our artillery had exploded - all around them and it went all over the place

Description

Mr. Allingham describes the difficulty in neutralizing a German 88 field piece at Carpiquet Airport, and how new radar made the task easier in later engagements.

Ronald Allingham

Mr. Ronald John Allingham was born July 16, 192 in Vernon, British Columbia. He was the eldest child with 3 brothers. With his father being an orchard grower, Mr. Allingham spent most of his young life working in the orchard; reaching a grade 8 level of education. Growing up during the “Dirty 30's” Mr. Allingham understood the significance of war being declared and on August 1, 1940 made the decision to join the Army and enlisted as part of the British Columbia Dragoons, B Squadron. After receiving basic training in Vernon, Mr. Allingham travelled to Duncan, BC to obtain more training, however, had a setback and took very ill. As health improved, Mr. Allingham had missed his opportunity for service with the army and was made part of the artillery under the 13th Field 78th Battery; a choice that later proved to be very satisfying. Mr. Allingham went overseas and in 1945 discharged from the service.

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